Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain
range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards
the southeast. The range is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. A number of
towns are situated there, most notably the city of Haifa, Israel's third
largest city, located on the northern slope.
The
name is presumed to be directly from the Hebrew language - the word
Carmel which means "fresh" (planted), or "vineyard" (planted).
The phrase "Mount Carmel" has been used in three distinct ways:
- To refer to the 39 km-long (24-mile long) mountain range, stretching as far in the southeast as Jenin.
- To refer to the northwestern 19 km (12 mi) of the mountain range.
- To refer to the headland at the northwestern end of the range.
The
Carmel range is approximately 6.5 to 8 kilometers' (4.0 to 5.0 miles)
wide, sloping gradually towards the southwest, but forming a steep ridge
on the northeastern face, 546 meters (1,791 feet) high. The Jezreel
Valley lies to the immediate northeast.
The
range forms a natural barrier in the landscape, just as the Jezreel
Valley forms a natural passageway, and consequently the mountain range
and the valley have had a large impact on migration and invasions
through the Levant over time. The mountain formation is an admixture of
limestone and flint, containing many caves, and covered in several
volcanic rocks. The sloped side of the mountain is covered with
luxuriant vegetation, including oak, pine, olive, and laurel trees.
Several
modern towns are located on the range, including Yokneam on the eastern
ridge, Zikhron Ya'akov on the southern slope, the Druze communities of
Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya on the more central part of the ridge, and
the towns of Nesher, Tirat Hakarmel, and the city of Haifa, on the far
northwestern promontory and its base. There is also a small kibbutz
called Beit Oren, which is located on one of the highest points in the
range to the southeast of Haifa.
Due
to the lush vegetation on the sloped hillside, and many caves on the
steeper side, Carmel became the haunt of criminals; Carmel was seen as a
place offering an escape from God, as implied by the Book of Amos.
According to the Books of Kings, Elisha travelled to Carmel straight
after cursing a group of young men because they had mocked him and the
ascension of Elijah by jeering, "Go on up, bald man!" After this, bears
came out of the forest and mauled 42 of them. This does not necessarily
imply that Elisha had sought asylum there from any potential backlash,
although the description in the Book of Amos, of the location being a
refuge, is dated by textual scholars to be earlier than the accounts of
Elisha in the Book of Kings, and according to Strabo it had continued to
be a place of refuge until at least the first century.
According
to Epiphanius, and Josephus, Mount Carmel had been the stronghold of
the Essenes that came from a place in Galilee named Nazareth; this
Essene group are sometimes referred to as Nazarenes, which followed the
teachings of Yeshua.
During
World War I, Mount Carmel played a significant strategic role. The
(20th century) Battle of Megiddo took place at the head of a pass
through the Carmel Ridge, which overlooks the Valley of Jezreel from the
south. General Allenby led the British in the battle, which was the
turning point in the war against the Ottoman Empire. The Jezreel Valley
had played host to many battles before, including the very historically
significant Battle of Megiddo between the Egyptians and Canaanites, but
it was only in the 20th century battle that the Carmel Ridge itself
played a significant part, due to the developments in munitions.
Archaeologists have discovered ancient wine and oil presses at various locations on Mt. Carmel.
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